Information Services - Statistical Reports

Cohort 2006 5-Year Graduation Rates - State Results

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is calculating and reporting graduation rates as part of overall efforts to improve educational outcomes for all students. In addition, reporting graduation rates is required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and by a National Governors Association compact that Massachusetts has signed.

The following tables and graphs summarize the results for the 2006 cohort. The four-year graduation rate is calculated as follows:

Table 5. Graduation Results for Limited English Proficient Students by Gender

Graduates

Non-High-School-Graduates

Cohort #

5-Year Rate

Still in School

Non-Grad Completer

GED

Dropped Out

Expelled

LEP Male

2,223

56.5%

5.3%

1.5%

0.3%

31.8%

0.3%

LEP Female

2,149

65.7%

4.9%

1.8%

0.4%

22.8%

0.0%

Table 6. Distribution of Districts

Rate

Number of Districts

Percentage of Districts

< 50%

4

1.4

50 - <60%

6

2.2

60 - <70%

13

4.7

70 - <80%

26

9.3

80 - <85%

47

16.8

85 - <90%

53

19.0

90 - <95%

80

28.7

95 - 100%

51

18.3

Total

279

100

Table 7. Distribution of Schools

Rate

Number of Districts

Percentage of Districts

< 50%

27

7.7

50 - <60%

14

4.0

60 - <70%

20

5.7

70 - <80%

40

11.5

80 - <85%

38

10.9

85 - <90%

61

17.5

90 - <95%

76

21.8

95 - 100%

73

20.9

Total

349

100

Notes:

Row percentages in tables may not total to 100 percent due to rounding.

In the reporting of aggregate results, students are included in the first column (from left to right) for which they qualify. For example, students who dropped out or were expelled, but earned a GED, are included in the GED category. Students who have earned a Certificate of Attainment but are still enrolled in school are included in the "Still in School" column.

Non-Grad Completer includes 1) students who earned a certificate of attainment, 2) students who met local graduation requirements but the district does not offer certificates of attainment, and 3) students with special needs who reached the maximum age (22) but did not graduate.

Students that earn a GED or Certificate of Attainment are not counted as graduates.

The Limited English Proficient, Special Education, and Low Income groups include all students that were reported in those categories at least once in high school. Students can be counted in more than one group.

The cohort count is as of the end of 2005-06 school year. The status (e.g. graduate, enrolled) is updated as of October 1, 2006.